Dhaka: The six-storey building in Shahjadpur, where a fire broke out this afternoon resulting in the deaths of four individuals, was not constructed in compliance with the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) plans or fire safety regulations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Assistant Director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence in Dhaka, Kazi Nazmuzzaman, stated at a briefing that the building lacked a RAJUK-approved plan, fire safety plan, and essential safety measures. Notably, the narrow three-foot-wide staircase and sealed windows with glass prevented smoke from escaping, exacerbating the situation.
The fire originated on the second floor at 12:17 pm and was contained by 1:04 pm with the help of two firefighting engines. The building housed a hardware shop on the first floor, a beauty parlor on the second, and a residential hotel from the third to the sixth floors.
As the fire and smoke spread, hotel residents attempted to reach the rooftop for safety but were trapped as the rooftop gate was locked, leading to suffocation. The Assistant Director highlighted that the victims might have survived had the smoke been able to escape through the staircase windows.
Four male bodies were recovered from the staircases and a toilet on the sixth floor and handed over to the police. The identified deceased includes Miron, aged 45, as reported by Rafi Al Faruk, duty officer of the fire control room. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unknown pending investigation, with a committee set to probe the incident.